[supton]

Ok, I don't care much about DRL, but I wouldn't mind disabling them, if it was "easy" to do. Mostly because if I start the car but am just sitting there, there is no reason for the headlights to be on. [I "often" park in front of a building, and as such, the headlights being on is going to be kinda annoying to people walking out. If I park the other way around, I light up the road and am annoying to traffic.]

I would like to disable the auto-headlights. Today the lights were going off and on, for no good reason. Not a huge issue, but if it was something that could just be turned off... I'm guessing the ambient light sensor could have a resistor tacked across it, or be cut open. Probably more work than it's worth, but might as well ask.

But what I really want to disable is the auto-lock. For some reason it is tied to the ignition. It should be tied to the shifter--lock when in gear, unlock when in park. It's turning into winter, and there will be plenty of times where I start the car but am not going to be driving. Yes, I can hit the unlock button; but if all I had to do was to snip a wire...

 

[dc_98_cam]

The auto lock signal is sent out by the ECU, but is not sent if one of the door courtesy switches indicates that a door is open. . . . So, as far as ideas, you might install a simple open/close switch on the dash, such that it was in line with a door switch ... causing the ECU to sense that a door was open.
... still looking at it though. Would not want to interfere with something else ...causing some sort of problem.
... Is your car US made or Japan made?

 

[supton]

Japan (first VIN digit is a J).

You know, I had noticed that, if a door is open it would not lock. Didn't put 2 and 2 together, that might be a simple fix. [I had been leaving a door open, as the dome light isn't like my other cars--it goes off and on with the door, no time delay. So I crack a door while the kids are still climbing in.]

 

[M70]

First of all leave the DRL's alone. They are not bright enough to annoy people and they are a proven safety item.
Second as for auto lock it is another safety feature. If you are setting in your vehicle it could stop someone from opening your door without your permission.

Have you looked in your manual for settings for the features on your vehicle?

 

[supton]

The DRL is the low beam at full brightness, best I can tell--I see no difference when I turn the lights on. Neither of my other Toyota's have DRL (the 2011 Camry might, but it's left off). It annoys me.

Also: I live in a rural area, and people getting into my vehicle is the least of my worries.

I have not looked in the manual, I'll look there next. I did scan through the manual when I bought the car, but don't recall any sort of customization (but I didn't read every page too deeply--a car is a car, right?). I had turned off the seatbelt chime in my two other Toyota's using Techstream and just assumed I had access to such things here. Alas, no such luck (or I didn't go in the right customization location). I'll look more closely tomorrow. [That reminds me, I'd love to make the seatbelt chime go away also!]